Attorney General's News Release

April 17, 2000

Nixon urges Clean Water Commission to adopt moratorium on chip mills

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today urged members of the Missouri Clean Water Commission to adopt a two-year moratorium on chip mills in the state. The Clean Water Commission, which issues discharge permits to chip mills, has taken public comments on the moratorium issue and is expected to vote on the matter at its meeting on April 19.

In a letter to Thomas Herrmann, chairman of the commission, Nixon said the moratorium is appropriate while a special task force appointed by the governor continues to study whether there are appropriate ways to manage chip mills without causing serious damage to the environment. Nixon said that chip mills operating in the Missouri Ozarks plow through acres of timber and strip the land of all trees and ground cover.

"The nature of the chip mill industry allows for harvesting techniques that degrade our land and water resources," Nixon said in his letter to the commission. "These high-capacity timber harvesting techniques have outstripped our current abilities to protect our forest and water resources."

The governor's task force on chip mills is expected to issue its report in July. Nixon said the duty to protect the water of the state cannot be put on hold.

"If we are to be good stewards of our resources, it is appropriate to put this moratorium in place now," he wrote. "To delay further would be an abdication of that duty."

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818